Police install knife detector outside McDonald’s to crack down on crime

Greater Manchester Police have fitted a McDonald’s with a metal detector in a bid to curb knife crime in the area.

The Maccies in Ashton town centre will ask people to walk through the detector as they enter the branch, as part of a national week of action to tackle knife crime – which has been named Operation Spectre.

GMP officers will use the arch to search for knives, and isn’t the only thing the police are doing as part of the operation to hunt for blades.

Greater Manchester officers will utilise a range of operational activities to deter people from carrying knives, and will also be ‘highlighting the risks and consequences of carrying a knife’.

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GMP’s knife crime lead, Superintendent Caroline Hemingway, said, as per the MEN: “The impact that knife crime has is truly devastating and affects everyone – from individuals and families to our communities.

“Intensification weeks such as Operation Sceptre see us working alongside our partners and focusing our resources accordingly, however our commitment to tackling knife crime is a priority throughout the year. We will not stop until our communities feel safe where they live without fear of being threatened or feel vulnerable due to the actions of others.

“We are committed to proactively targeting knife crime hotspots within the community using stop search – where appropriate, weapons sweeps, knife arches, and covert and overt policing deployments, and investigative work to target those involved with knife crime.

“We are also working with partners across Greater Manchester including local councils, other emergency services and the Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) to provide insight into why violence occurs within Greater Manchester and work with the community to provide solutions.

“I would like to urge those who even think about carrying a knife to take a moment and realise how many people may be affected by your actions. You won’t only be hurting someone else – you’ll also be hurting yourself as my officers are actively targeting those involved in knife crime and will use all manners at their disposal to bring you to justice.”